- New World screwworm found in the U.S. in June for the first time in decades, primarily targeting livestock like cows for its flesh-eating larvae.
- Public health leaders emphasize the parasite is not a threat to food safety but poses economic risks and could raise beef prices.
- Screwworm larvae require living tissue to survive and do not infest meat, fruits, or vegetables, unlike other flies.
- Infested animals are unlikely to reach slaughterhouses due to visible symptoms, and USDA inspection systems would detect and separate them.
- Healed animals may enter the food supply, but larvae are removed, and treatment regulations prevent harmful residues in meat.
- Hunters are advised to avoid infested wildlife, with awareness campaigns in Texas and New Mexico to identify and report infestations.